Elkhart school district holding anti-bullying assembly for parents

ELKHART, Ind. – Elkhart Community Schools continues to educate and inform parents about issues in the school district through a series of informational sessions.

School officials are holding an anti-bullying assembly at Elkhart High School- Freshman Division on Thursday, May 12 at 6 p.m.

The assembly aims to help parents understand how to identify bullying and see what the school district is doing when those incidents happen. Elkhart Community Schools Superintendent Steve Thalheimer said the school district defines bullying as a persistent behavior that interferes with the students ability to take part in educational programs. 

In recent months, Elkhart Community Schools has been in the spotlight because parents say there have been multiple bullying incidents. 

During the meeting, school officials will address the national trends on bullying, how students can respond to it, how parents can watch out for warning signs- and learn about the district's policy for bullying investigations. 

Superintendent Thalheimer said Elkhart schools is focused on making sure it's looking after students, to understand their needs and see who might be at risk and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of parents.

“If we can provide information that helps clarify what bullying is or isn’t, we can help clarify how parents can help their children. And if we can clarify our processes and how people can report, so that we can follow up on the insistences that are happening in our building, it all becomes a good way for us to work in that partnership,” Thalheimer said. 

Parents will also have an opportunity to provide feedback and ask additional questions 

The anti-bullying assembly is taking place at Elkhart High School the Freshman Division in the auditorium at 6 p.m. on May